RadioShack's Edmondson Apologizes For Resume Flubs

One thing's for sure. David Edmondson, the chief executive of Texas-based RadioShack probably isn't a Forbes.com reader. For if he'd checked out our Business Basics package, there's a whole section that gives execs advice on writing a killer resume. "This seems basic, but many miss, or ignore, what their mother taught them: Never lie."

Perhaps Edmondson's lie was a genuine mistake, but in as far as a lie is a statement that deviates from the truth, his claim to have a psychology degree from Pacific Coast Baptist College in California was a lie.

In addition to the non-existent psychology degree, Edmondson's school--which moved to Oklahoma in 1998 and was renamed Heartland Baptist Bible College--says it cannot find a crumb of evidence that the CEO completed a theology degree, as he claimed on his curriculum vitae.

Edmondson has apologized for the "misstatements," and taken full responsibility for the inexactitudes. "The contents of my resume and the company's Web site were clearly incorrect," he was quoted as saying in a media report.

Edmondson, who has been CEO of
RadioShack
since May, believes he earned his theology degree but is as yet unable to document it. And as for the psychology scroll, a school registrar apparently told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the school never offered degrees in the subject.

He is apparently being investigated by RadioShack's board, which said it is looking into the legal aspects of the situation. What could be the result of this? "A resume isn't a legal document, so the only sanction for lying is an employer's decision not to hire you. But if you lie on your resume, you'll have to repeat the false information on the company's job application, which is a legal document, and that can get you fired," says Forbes.com's Business Basics expert.

"I apologize to the board and the employees for the confusion I have created by carrying erroneous information on my resume and mishandling my explanation of it," a contrite Edmondson has said in a statement, adding that he'll provide all information to the board in order to clarify the issues.